A Lost Time Injury
Posted: February 22nd, 2012 | Author: jsabuilder | Filed under: Case Study | No Comments »
The Task: Remove a mobile generator from a storage shed for transportation to well sites, where it is used to power equipment.
The Facts: The generator weighs about 100 lbs, has only two wheels, and no ergonomically designed lifting handle. Workers must utilize the frame to lift & move the generator. The generator is stored amongst other equipment in the storage shed, making access difficult. A job safety analysis was not performed in advance.
The Situation: A worker was assigned the task of removing the generator. Due to the storage position and lack of maneuverability of the generator, the worker was required to place himself in an awkward position to move the generator. When the worker lifted and started to push the generator, he immediately felt pain in his lower back. The resulting lumbar sprain meant the worker lost one day of work and was on restricted duties for two weeks.
The Analysis: Had job hazards been analyzed, discussed, and a JSA created before the work began, a few simple controls could have been implemented:
1. Casters would have been installed on the generator to enhance maneuverability (Engineering Control).
2. The generator would have been stored in such a manner to allow for better access, avoiding the risk of injury from an awkward position (Administrative Control).
3. Ergonomically sound techniques would have been used by the worker to maneuver the generator into position for transport. This may have involved another worker’s assistance in moving the generator (Administrative Control).
All too often the hazards associated with routine tasks are not fully analyzed before workers proceed. If a job safety analysis had been performed, the hazards of the task would have been carefully considered, discussed, and controlled. The worker would have avoided a painful injury and the company could have avoided unnecessary costs and losing a valuable employee’s time.
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